Chronology

1843 Birth of Gertrude Jekyll in London, in sixth year of Queen Victoria’s reign1848 Gertrude Jekyll and family move to Bramley, Surrey1854 Crimean War (lasted to 1856)1861 Gertrude Jekyll enrols in South Kensington School of Art, London, start of American Civil War (lasted to 1865).1868 Gertrude Jekyll and family leave Bramley and move to Wargrave, Berkshire; Disraeli and Gladstone both Prime Minister for the first time1870 Franco-Prussian War1873-4 Gertrude Jekyll spends four months travelling in Algeria1876 After her father’s death, Gertrude Jekyll moves to Munstead, Surrey; first garden designs (she created over 400 during her life)1881 Gertrude Jekyll’s first gardening articles in The Garden (she wrote over 1,000 articles for various publications during her life)1883-4 Gertrude Jekyll cooperates with William Robinson on his book The English Flower Garden and his garden at Gravetye1889 Gertrude Jekyll meets 20 year old architect, Edwin Lutyens; fruitful collaboration ensues1896 Lutyens designs Gertrude Jekyll’s house, Munstead Wood. The creation of house and garden are described in her books, Wood and Garden (published 1899) and Home and Garden (1900)1901 Death of Queen Victoria, succeeded by King Edward VII1910 Death of King Edward VII1914 Gertrude Jekyll’s first American designs, outbreak of First World War (lasted to 1918)1930 Gertrude Jekyll wrote 43 articles for Gardening Illustrated after passing 86th birthday1932 Death of Gertrude Jekyll at Munstead Wood, Surrey